Trevor Ivory has accused the Lib Dems of being hopelessly inconsistent over Europe as their new leader’s policy over the European Constitution is left in tatters.

“In the House of Commons Nick Clegg led his MPs in abstaining on the Conservative amendment that would have given the British people the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (the successor to the Constitution) as all three parties, including his own, promised at the last General Election. At the same time, they called for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU as nothing more than a smoke screen for their broken promises on the Treaty.”

“Now the issue has moved into the House of Lords and this time the Lib Dems have abstained on a vote for the very referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU that their MPs called for, whilst indicating that they will vote against the referendum on the Treaty.”

“At least Lib Dem peers are being honest about where their party stands on Europe – they are against leaving the EU, in favour of the Treaty and are happy to break their promises to the British people to further their European ambitions.”

“The Conservatives will continue to oppose the ratification of the Treaty without the referendum that all three parties promised, even if Labour and the Lib Dems keep on letting us down.”